NYC Liberals Demand that Walmart Stop Helping Poor People

New York City Liberals would apparently rather have charities go without millions of dollars, than see the company get a little good press. Just over half of the 51 members of the New York City Council wrote a letter to the retail giant, demanding that it stop donating millions of dollars to local city charities because… Well, because liberals hate Walmart, I guess. According to the NY Post:

“We know how desperate you are to find a foothold in New York City to buy influence and support here,” says the letter, obtained by The Post and addressed to Walmart and the Walton Family Foundation. “Stop spending your dangerous dollars in our city,” the testy letter demands. “That’s right: this is a cease-and-desist letter.”

Wow… “Dangerous” dollars? Yeah. Even when a dollar goes to a non-profit that buys groceries for struggling New York families, it’s “dangerous” if it comes from a profitable non-union-company. (Liberal outrage is kinda fun to watch, isn’t it?) How dare Walmart donate over $3 million dollars to important New York charities like the NY Women’s Foundation, or Baily House! How dare a national retail chain donate some of its profits to better the lives of disadvantaged New Yorkers! (Still waiting on that sarcasm font…)

Twenty six of the 51 members of the Council -- feeling that Walmart’s multi-million dollar effort to help impoverished families was nothing more than a corporate ploy -- signed onto the letter.

Unsurprisingly, liberal outrage is once again hurting the very people progressives claim to champion. After all, what is so “dangerous” about America’s largest employer? Not only does Walmart offer people the opportunity to enter the workforce, but they also offer goods and services to low income families at prices that are actually affordable. Oh… And (apparently) they make a real monetary difference to the operating budgets of well-intentioned charities. What evil capitalist pigs!

Of course the Liberal anger toward Walmart has always been somewhat perplexing. I mean, heck, it’s largely “disadvantaged groups” that benefit disproportionately by having access to low priced foods, clothing, and household goods. It might come as a shock, but most poor people can’t do their shopping at Neiman Marcus. Walmart, as it turns out, gives families the ability to “get the basics” without breaking the bank.

Michael Schaus is a talk radio host, the Associate Editor for Townhall Finance, and the executive producer for Ransom Notes Radio. He is a writer, artist, and political humorist. Having worked in a wide range of industries (including construction, journalism, and financial services) his perspectives and world views are forged with a deep understanding of what it means to be an American conservative. Visit RightWingImage.com for more from Michael.